A RAY of hope for local newspapers this week as five redundant journalists team up to start their own publication.

The five were all employed by the Manchester-based MEN Media before their papers were either shut-down or centralised miles away from their readers, in the wave of cost-cutting prompted by the recession and growth of the internet.

Some doom and gloom merchants have already been quick to give their pessimistic verdict on the venture at the North West media web-site, How Do.

But all those with an interest in local journalism and vibrant, questioning local papers, will welcome the team’s initiative and bravery in setting up PIP Media.

Bosses at the mainstream media will, no doubt, be closely watching how their former employees fare as competitors. It will be interesting to see how they respond.

And there will be lots of questions about the business model for the venture – not least what the ‘on-line’ offer will be and how they aim to attract enough advertising revenue to succeed.

These are testing times for everyone involved in the media, but Sound Communication for one, wishes the first new paper, the Rochdale and Heywood Independent, every success.

We hope it is the first of many more such journalism-led ventures.